Tom Nichols
DORCHESTER TOWN
1	Alan Walker-Harris
2	Kyle Critchell
3	Jake Smeeton
4	Mark Jermyn
5	Nathan Walker
6	Jamie Gleeson
7	Nick Crittenden
8	Ashley Nicholls
9	Rico Wilson
10	Tom Nichols
11	Steve Devlin
Substitutes
12	Harrison Bell
14	Ryan Dovell
15	Jamie Symes
16	Neil Martin
17	Andrew White
DOVER ATHLETIC
1	Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz
2	Phil Starkey
3	Thomas Wynter
4	Michael Corcoran
5	Ed Harris
6	Shane Huke
7	Barry Cogan
8	Glen Southam
9	James Walker		57
10	Terry Dixon
11	George Purcell		72
Substitutes
12	Billy Bricknell		57
14	Ian Simpemba
15	Agustin Battipiedi
16	Donovan Simmonds		72
17	Lee Hook
REFEREE
Brett Huxtable (Torrington)

Saturday 21st January 2012
		Dorchester Town	1
		Nichols 83
		Dover Athletic	1
		Simmonds 81

Tom comes to Magpies' rescue

by Ky Capel

Tom Nichols bagged his third goal in as many games to maintain Dorchester Town’s unbeaten start to 2012 and secure a share of the spoils against fellow play-off hopefuls Dover Athletic.

The Magpies looked set to suffer only their second defeat in 14 Blue Square Bet South outings after Donovan Simmonds opened the scoring in the 81st minute.

But teenager Nichols, on loan from Exeter City, found the net just two minutes later to rescue a deserved point for the hosts, who remain seventh in the table.

And manager Alan Knight praised his side’s never-say-die attitude, saying: “It was a hard fought game and it was always going to be a game where we would be toe-to-toe with each other.

“I felt we had the best chances in the first half but we got a little bit stretched just prior to their goal and Mark Jermyn had to make a great clearance with his head. Nathan Walker made one as well so we had a wobbly 10 minutes before the goal.

“But the boys didn’t let their heads drop, they kept at it and they never gave up.

“Three points would have been nicer but in the dressing room afterwards it felt like a win in a way and that helps with our belief.

“We’ve played a side that I believe will be up there or thereabouts come the end of the season and we’ve matched them. It deserved to end in a draw.”

With Kyle Critchell and Jamie Gleeson back to full fitness, the Magpies made two changes from the 4-1 win at Eastbourne – Harrison Bell and Neil Martin dropping to the bench as a result.

Keen to prove they are genuine play-off contenders, Dorchester were out to make an immediate impression against their fellow high-fliers.

And only a last-ditch challenge from Tom Wynter denied Nick Crittenden a clear sight of goal, following a fine through pass from Nichols.

Nichols was looking extremely lively in the opening exchanges, aiming to fill the void left by Brighton’s new signing Ben Dickenson, and he flashed a header over the top from Steve Devlin’s powerful set-piece.

The loanee then teed up striking partner Rico Wilson, who showed good control to bring the ball down on his chest but was unable to get his shot away.

Dover were by no means under the cosh, nor surrendering territorial advantage. They were however finding it difficult to penetrate the county town defence.

Their task could have been made easier when Devlin dived in two-footed for a 50-50 with visiting full-back Phil Starkey.

Premier League players have seen red for much worse this season but referee Brett Huxtable, after several minutes’ thought, took a more lenient view and merely produced a yellow card.

To compound Dover’s frustration, the man in black then booked Starkey despite awarding the free-kick in the away side’s favour. He also cautioned Barry Cogan and Dorchester’s Nathan Walker for their part in the melee that followed the initial incident.

Both sides continued to cancel each other out as the match entered the second period and it took almost 18 minutes for the first attempt at goal – George Purcell firing into the side netting.

An offside flag and an excellent recovery from Jake Smeeton prevented substitute Simmonds making an immediate impact before Dover went the closest of either team.

Neither keeper had been called into serious action up until the 75th minute but when Michael Corcoran, 20 yards out, set his sights on the bottom-left corner, Alan Walker-Harris did well to palm the effort away.

The danger was far from over and, with the home gloveman still on the deck, Billy Bricknell sent the rebound towards goal, only for Mark Jermyn to produce an astonishing clearance on the line.

The Kent outfit were in the ascendancy and their short spell of pressure finally told with nine minutes to go.

Bricknell shrugged off the attentions of Critchell in the corner, unfairly in the opinion of some, and then centred for fellow substitute Simmonds who beat Walker-Harris with a miscued strike.

The visitors’ joy was clear to see but within two minutes parity was restored.

Wilson pounced on a misplaced pass and fed Nichols, who raced through and kept his cool to slide his effort under the advancing Mikael Ruiz.

The goal may have been Dorchester’s first shot on target but defeat would have been harsh on the hard-working hosts.

On the subject of Devlin’s earlier challenge, Knight added: “It wasn’t pretty and there is a lot of debate about what is an over-the-top challenge.

“His studs were showing but he got the ball. Some refs may have sent him off but this one didn’t.

“For me, because he got the ball, it was fair to just give him a booking. I just couldn’t work out what the other bookings were for.”

	MATCH STATS
3	TOTAL ATTEMPTS	8
2	ATTEMPTS ON TARGET	3
1	ATTEMPTS OFF TARGET	5
0	HIT WOODWORK	0
3	CORNERS	3
2	OFFSIDES	2
10	FREE-KICKS CONCEDED	11